Baffle and reflector for lighting fixtures



1951 A. P. LEINEN 2,565,435

BAFFLE AND REFLECTOR FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed May 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 21, 1951 A. P. LEINEN 2,565,435

BAFFLE AND REFLECTOR FGR LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed May 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 21, .1951

BAFFLE AND REFLECTOR FOR LIGHTING IX RE Arthur P. Leinen, Chicago, 111., 'assignor to Benjamin Ele'ctricgManufactui-ing Company, Des

Plaines, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 3, 1946, Serial No. 666,886

: Claims.

' This invention relatesto lighting fixtures, more particularly to fluorescent lighting fixtures for holding a plurality of fluorescent lamps and flttings therefor and it is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus of this character.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fluorescent lighting fixture including a bafile and a reflect-or having an improved arrangemjentfjor attaching the bafiie to the reflector.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved removable baffle for a lighting fixture.

Fluorescent lighting fixtures usually include a refiector'adapted to support any desired number of fluorescent lamps and baflles spaced between adjacent ones of the fluorescent lamps. The inside surfaces of the reflector and the exterior surfaces of the bafile are covered with a smooth coating of reflecting material in order that substantially all of the light emitted from the fluorescent lamps is transmitted into the area being lighted. Ordinarily the baffles are so arranged with respect to the fluorescent lamps that a person viewing the fixture, or being present in the area lighted, is substantially prevented from viewing the fluorescent lamps directly, thereby preventing glare on the eyes. That is to say, the fluorescent lighting fixture is so designed as to present the illumination in as diffuse a manner as possible. In one well vknown fluorescent lighting fixture, the baffle comprises a pair of'spaced refleeting surfaces which receive attaching brackets or hangers between them, the hangers being relatively rigidly attached to the reflector for supporting the baffle in proper relationship to the fluorescent lamps.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a. fluorescent lighting fixture including an improved removable baflie therefor.

In carrying out the invention in one form, a lighting flx-ture is provided comprising a reflector adapted to support at least a pair of lamps therein, a removable baffle lying between the lamps, and a pair of hangers, one of which is resiliently urged toward one position for attaching the baffle to the reflector.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should now be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partially broken away of a lighting fixture embodying the invention;

Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in sectlon of -Fig. l;

F g. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 3-.3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of another embodimerit of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view'taken substantially alonglines 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown embodied in a fluorescent lighting fixture including a reflector l6 surmounted by a housmg I l and a bafile l2 suspended from the reflector by hangers t3 and I4, the baffle being spaced between a pair of fluorescent lamps l5 and Hi.

Reflector IE] preferably includes a top surf-ace ll, side surfaces 18 and I9 extending therefrom, and arim 2| surrounding the reflector at the ends of the side surfaces, the rims lending rigidity to the reflector. The length of reflector l0 may be chosen to accommodate fluorescent lamps of the desired Wattage, and while shown in the drawings to be that for accommodating a pair of fluorescent lamps, it will be understood that the width may be chosen to accommodate any number of fluorescent lamps. Advantageously, the reflector may be constructed of a single piece of sheet metal bent into the channel-shaped configuration shown, With sides I8 and I9 extending directly from top surface I! so as to provide a relatively regular contour. The inside surf-ace of the top and the side members are covered with some light reflecting material, such for example as white vitreous enamel, thereby providing a smooth, light reflecting surface which is relatively free from'cracks or other imperfections. At each end of reflector It, suitable fixtures (not shown) may be provided for supporting fluorescent lamps l5 and i6.

The housing ll surmounting reflector II] is adapted to contain the various electrical appurtenances for operating the fluorescent lamps, and may alsobe constructed of sheet metalbent into the confiugration shown, having a length substantially equal to that of the reflector and attached thereto by any suitable means, such'for example as the bolts 22. The housing H provides additional heat dissipating surface in order to transmit to the atmosphere the heatgiven off by the lamps.

The bafiie I2 is of a length substantially equal to that of reflector [6 so as to extend substantially the full extent of the fluorescent lamps, the

baffle including a pair of spaced apart side-membersie andZ i. Thesidemembers maybe formed, for example, by bending a piece of sheet -metal into the configuration shown, thereby providing a construction in which these members are :in-

3 tegrally and regularly connected together along one edge by the portion 25. At the side of the bafile, opposite to edge 25, concave portions 26 and 21, respectively, are provided to rigidify the relatively lengthy baffle and thereby prevent warping when the bafiie becomes heated. The concave portions are preferably formed integrally with side members 23 and 24 and bent smoothly therefrom so as to provide a regular contour. In order that the bafile reflect light evenly therefrom, its various surfaces may also be coated with a white vitreous enamel.

For suspending baille I2 between fluorescent lamps I and I6, hangers I3 and I4 are received between the reflecting side surfaces 23 and 24 and are attached to the baffle. Hanger I4 may be formed of sheet metal with a relatively rectangular base 28 and a tongue 29 projecting therefrom, the tongue including a pair of spaced prongs or fingers 3| at its outward end. The rectangular base is received between reflecting side members 23 and 24, while tongue 29 extends upwardly therefrom, the base including a pair of cut-out portions 32 through which rivets 33 extend for relatively rigidly attaching the hanger to the baffle. The tongue 29 is twisted, as shown best in Fig. 2, so as to have its upper end directed at right angles to the plane of base 28, the fingers 3I being bent downwardly from tongue 29 to extend generally in the direction of baflie I2 thereby facilitating the attaching of bafiie I2 to reflector III.

At the end of bafiie I2, opposite the hanger I4, hanger I3 is arranged to be slidably disposed between reflecting side members 23 and 24. Similar to hanger I4, hanger I3 in its general configuration includes a base 34, a tongue 35 extending from the base substantially midway of its confines, and a pair of prongs or fingers 36 extending from the outward end of the tongue. Base 34, tongue 35, and fingers 36 may conveniently be formed from a blank of sheet metal bent as shown, the base being substantially rectangular and provided with a pair of slots 31 lying substantially parallel to the top and bottom edges of the base and midway therebetween. Rivets 38 are passed through the reflecting side members and through slots 31 for holding hanger I3 between the side members, while permitting the hanger to move slidably relative to rivets 38. This is accomplished by virtue of the rivets being spaced apart approximately a distance equal to the distance between the center lines of slots 31. Tongue 35 projecting upwardly from base 34 is twisted as shown so as to have its upper edge extending at right angles to the plane of base 34, and the fingers 36 are bent downwardly from tongue 35 so as to lie substantially in the longitudinal dirction of the baffle to permit relatively easy attachment thereof to reflector I6. Hanger I3 is biased toward a left hand position by the coil spring 39 contacting one edge of base 34 and prevented from moving at its other end by rivet 4I extending through channel portions 26 and 21, the coil spring being confined thereby within the channel members and held in its proper position Without additional means.

Projecting downwardly into reflector I0 adjacent each end of top surface I7, and substantially centrally thereof, are the brackets 42 and 43 for cooperating respectively with hangers I3 and I4 to suspend bafiie I2 from reflector I0. Bracket 42 may include a base portion attached to top surface IT by any well known means, such for example as welding, and a ledge or flange 44 provided with a pair of holes, as may be seen best in Fig. 3 to receive the projecting fingers 36 of hanger I3. Similar to bracket 42, bracket 43 includes a base attached to top surface I1 and a ledge or flange 45 projecting downwardly therefrom and including a pair of holes to receive the projecting fingers 3I.

The baffle, including the hangers I3 and I4, may be assembled, after forming the baflie to the configuration shown, by placing hanger I4 in its proper position, followed by placing coil spring 39 within channels 26 and 21, inserting rivet 4 I, placing hanger I3 in proper position, and inserting rivets 33 and 38. In this position coil spring 39 biases hanger l3 toward its extreme left hand position, as shown by the dot-dash line 46. Thereafter, in assembling the bafile to the reflector,

prongs 3I are first inserted in the cooperating openings of ledge 45. Then hanger I3 is pushed to the position shown by the dot-dash line 41, whereupon prongs 36 are aligned with openings in ledge 44 and the hanger I3 is allowed to be pushed toward the left by coil spring 39 until prongs 36 are received within the openings of ledge 44. The baffle is then securely held within the reflector and is relatively free from wobbling or vibration since the two prongs provided on each of the tongues 29 and 35 provide suflicient supporting surface. When it is desired to remove the baffle, it is only necessary to push hanger I3 toward the dot-dash line 41 thereby to remove prongs 36 from the openings of ledge 44, followed by removing prongs 3I from the openings of ledge 45.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modification of the invention is shown, providing another manner of attaching the bafile to the reflector. Corresponding parts shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and the other figures are designated by the same reference characters. In the modification, instead of brackets 42 and 43, studs 48 project downwardly from top surface I'I. Studs 48 may comprise, for example, a bolt and nut in which the nut is provided with a cut-out portion or circular groove 49, the groove being of a diameter so as to be easily receivable between the prongs of the two hangers, for example, prongs 36 of the hanger I3. Thus, to attach bafile I2 to the reflector, the tongues 29 and 35 are manipulated as previously described, but the prongs thereof are placed into the grooves formed in the projecting studs (Fig. 5). Moving tongue 35 backwardly and forwardly, of course, permits attachment as well as removal of the baflie.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a reflector having supporting means for at least a pair of lamps therein, a bafile including a pair of spaced reflecting surfaces integral along one edge lying between said lamp supporting means, channel means extending along the other edges of each of said reflecting surfaces, hangers received between said reflecting surfaces at said other edges, one of said hangers being fixedly attached to said reflecting surfaces, means on said reflector receiving said one hanger for holding one end of said baflle to said reflector, the other of said hangers being slidably attached to said baiile between the reflecting surfaces thereof, means on said reflector receiving said other hanger for holding the other end of said battle to said reflector, and spring means lying in said channel means urging said other hanger into engagement with its receiving means.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a reflector having supporting means for at least a pair of lamps therein, a removable bafile including a pair of spaced reflecting surfaces integral along one edge lying between said lamp supporting means, channel means extending along the other edges of each of said reflecting surfaces, hangers received between said reflecting surfaces at said other edges each of which includes a pair of spaced prongs, one of said hangers being fixedly attached to said baffle at one end thereof, a two opening bracket depending from said reflector receiving the two prongs of said one hanger for holding said one end of said baffle to said reflector, the other of said hangers being slidably attached to said baffie at the other end thereof, another two opening bracket depending from said reflector receiving the two prongs of said other hanger for holding the other end of said bafile to said reflector, and spring means lying in said channel means urging the prongs of said other hanger into engagement with the two openings of the receiving bracket.

3. A lighting fixture comprising a reflector having supporting means for at least a pair of lamps therein, a removable baffie including a pair of spaced reflecting surfaces integral along one edge lying between said lamp supporting means, channel means extending along other edges of each of said reflecting surfaces, hangers received between said reflecting surfaces at said other edges each of which includes a pair of spaced prongs, one of said hangers being fixedly attached to said baffle at one end, a grooved stud projecting from said reflector at one end thereof received between the two prongs of said one hanger for holding said one end of said baflle to said reflector, the other of said hangers being slidably attached to said baflie at the other end thereof, another grooved stud depending from said reflector at its other end received between the two prongs of said other hanger for holding the other end of said bafiie to said reflector, and

spring means lying in said channel means urging said other hanger into engagement with the corresponding stud.

4. A battle for a lightingflxture comprising a pair of spaced reflecting side members integrally joined along one of their edges, channel members extending along the other edges of said members, one hanger extending between said side members and fixedly attached thereto at one end thereof, a second hanger extending between said side members and slidably attached thereto at the other end thereof, and spring means lying in said channel members for urging said slidable hanger toward its limit of movement.

5. A lighting fixture comprising a reflector having supporting means for at least a pair of lamps therein, a bafile including a pair of spaced reflecting surfaces integral along one edge lying between said lamp supporting means, stiffening means extending along the other edges of each of said reflecting surfaces, hangers received between said reflecting surfaces at said other edges, one of said hangers being fixedly attached to said reflecting surfaces, means on said reflector receiving said one hanger for holding one end of said baifie to said reflector, the other of said hangers being slidably attached to said bafiie between the reflecting surfaces thereof, means on said reflector receiving said other hanger for holding the other end of said baffle to said reflector, and spring means urging said other hanger into engagement with its receiving means.

ARTHUR P. LEINEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 136,641 Masterson Nov. 9, 1943 1,746,880 Woolf Feb. 11, 1930 1,987,943 Munson Jan. 15, 1935 2,335,545 Shannon et al. Nov. 30, 1943 2,346,717 Ainsworth Apr. 18, 1944 2,411,952 Biller Dec. 3, 1946 

